Live

• Wall Street experienced a downturn on Friday as investors shifted away from the artificial intelligence sector due to growing concerns over frontier AI development. • In contrast to the U.S. market retreat, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) managed to edge slightly higher. • Global markets are reacting to volatility in tech valuations and a simultaneous jump in oil prices.

• AAP MP Sanjay Singh has moved a Suspension of Business notice under Rule 267 to bring several critical issues to the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session starting July 20, 2026. • The notice seeks urgent discussion on the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, the general erosion of public examination integrity, and the police response to peaceful protesters. • A primary concern is the deteriorating health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is currently protesting at Jantar Mantar and refusing medical treatment.

• NASA's Psyche spacecraft successfully completed a flyby of Mars, capturing a significant trove of data and a time-lapse video of the encounter. • Mission scientists used the flyby to calibrate instruments under dynamic conditions and study the physics of planetary magnetism. • This calibration phase is a critical step in ensuring the spacecraft's systems are fully operational before it reaches its primary target.

• Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, vowing that "not a single drop" of oil will pass if U.S. "aggression" continues. • In a separate internal development, Iran's judiciary executed two men convicted of killing four police officers during protests earlier this year. • These escalations occur as the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran expands, potentially turning the Gulf region into a primary front of confrontation.

• Liverpool is reportedly monitoring 25-year-old French midfielder Manu Kone, who is currently linked with a move from Roma. • Roma is seeking a transfer fee of approximately £47 million, though Liverpool faces stiff competition from Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea. • Kone has requested that his agent suspend all transfer negotiations until after the conclusion of the World Cup to resolve his future.

• Arsenal FC has entered the race for Diomande and is linked with Ezri Konsa to provide cover for William Saliba, who faces a potential six-month absence due to a back fracture. • Chelsea is reportedly preparing for a medical examination for Rogers as part of their summer recruitment drive. • Manchester United continues to bolster its midfield following the additions of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, with the club contacting Hugo Larsson and preparing a bid for Manu Kone.

• On July 20, 2026, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a formal response to remarks made by New York City Mayor Mamdani. • The dispute centers on comments made by Mayor Mamdani regarding an arrest, though specific details of the incident were not elaborated in the update. • This clash highlights the ongoing diplomatic and political tension between local U.S. leadership and the Israeli government.

Albanese’s comments come as One Nation leader nears end of UK tour. Follow today’s news liveAlbanese helps launch major air combat exerciseAnthony Albanese has announced the official opening of Exercise Pitch Black 2026, Australia’s premier international air combat exercise, happening in Darwin.Australia is strongest when we work closely with our partners.Exercise Pitch Black strengthens those partnerships and demonstrates Australia’s commitment to working closely across our region to support peace, stability and security.When I have the opportunity to represent Australia overseas, I talk Australia up.I don’t talk Australia down. I go as someone who’s proud to represent our nation and proud to talk about what we are as a nation. There’s nowhere you’d rather be than Australia, and I think that it is up to our representatives, no matter where they stand in the parliament, when they’re overseas, to talk Australia up, not talk Australia down. Continue reading...

• The US military confirmed a service member was killed in Iraq during a "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone. • This marks the third confirmed troop death following a new round of airstrikes intended to "swiftly punish" Iran for its actions. • A separate attack targeted electricity generation units, forcing the ministry to trigger emergency plans to stabilize the power grid.

• On July 19, 2026, market updates highlighted strong performance and growth projections for B2Gold and AtaiBeckley. • B2Gold (TSX:BTO), valued at CA$6.8 billion, is projected to achieve annual earnings growth of approximately 30%, driven by its Fekola, Masbate, and Otjikoto mines. • AtaiBeckley (NASDAQ:ATAI) closed at $7.22, marking a significant 39.7% increase for the week, while its Merger contingent value right (CVR) traded at roughly 19% of its $2.50 potential payout.

• Christopher Nolan's new film, *The Odyssey*, starring Matt Damon, achieved a record-breaking global opening of $257.8 million by its second day. • This performance marks the biggest global opening of Nolan's career, signaling massive commercial success for the production. • The milestone highlights the continued dominance of high-budget cinematic spectacles in the $2.83 trillion global entertainment industry.

Fresh attack comes after Iran’s supreme leader warned Washington would pay for ‘seeking to escalate’ the conflictTwo US troops killed and one missing in Jordan after Iranian attacksThe US military said it launched new airstrikes against Iran to “swiftly punish” the country’s Revolutionary Guard for an attack in Jordan that killed two American service members, left one missing and four requiring hospitalisation.Speaking to the New York Post, the US president, Donald Trump, described the deaths as a “shame”. “They did it because they don’t want to see Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said of the troops. “And it just shows you how bad (the Iranians) are,” he added.The two US troop deaths on Friday were its first from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X: “Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.”Iran appeared to target Saudi Arabia as ​well as other US Gulf allies and Jordan on Saturday after US attacks on Iranian bridges, power facilities ‌and other infrastructure.Mojtaba Khamenei said US actions had shown that Trump’s signature was “utterly worthless and devoid of credibility”, warning of “even heavier costs and further humiliation” for ‌the US, in a statement carried by the ‌official social media accounts of Iran’s supreme leader and state media.The American deaths brought the number of US service members killed since the war began to 16, while more than 430 have been injured. Iran’s health ministry said on ‌Saturday that 50 people had been killed ​and more than 500 injured in US strikes ​on the country over the past three weeks.In Iraq, a base near Irbil of the Kurdistan Freedom party, an Iranian Kurdish dissident group, was struck by a drone early on Sunday, wounding eight of its members, according to a military official with the group.The most significant damage from Iranian strikes on Saturday occurred in Kuwait, where a water desalination plant and an oil facility were hit, according to the Kuwait authorities and the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. It was the second attack against a desalination plant in two days in the tiny nation that depends on desalination for 90% of its drinking water. Continue reading...

• Global stock markets entered a phase of sideways trading on July 18, 2026, characterized by minimal price movement. • This stagnation creates a challenging environment for investors as clear profit signals are currently absent from the market. • Traders are advised to focus on identifying key support and resistance zones while closely tracking economic indicators and market sentiment.

• Barcelona has signed midfielder El Maimouni from the Belgian club Sporting Charleroi. • The player, a dual citizen of Morocco and Belgium, is praised for his composure and forward passing, drawing comparisons to Sergio Busquets. • El Maimouni will first develop within Barcelona's renowned La Masia academy to prepare for a future transition into the first team.

• England and France are facing off in the third-place play-off match of the 2026 World Cup, held in Miami. • The match highlights Harry Kane's struggle to impact major tournament knockout stages, having scored only two goals across four semi-finals and two finals for England. • Analysis suggests Kane's low scoring rate in these high-stakes games is due to England's tactical lack of adventure and failure to utilize their primary attacking threat.

• CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has alleged that Delhi Police are planning a crackdown on protests during the night or early morning hours. • The alleged police action is reportedly intended to suppress the voices of youth protesting alongside activist Sonam Wangchuk. • In response to these threats, Dipke has appealed to the public to join a night vigil at Jantar Mantar to maintain their presence.

• Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police after conducting an indefinite hunger strike for 21 days at Jantar Mantar. • The hospitalization occurred on medical advice and in compliance with Delhi High Court directions to ensure Wangchuk's health was regularly monitored. • Activist Anna Hazare has urged the Union government to initiate talks with Wangchuk, while the BJP accused the Opposition of attempting to turn the medical emergency into a "political spectacle."